Published on November 01, 2016

UNC Health Care and UNC REX Healthcare Co-workers Lead Triangle-wide Relief Efforts

In early October, flooding from Hurricane Matthew displaced thousands of people in the eastern part of North Carolina. UNC Health Care and UNC REX Healthcare (UNC REX) are coordinating with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina on a Triangle-wide donation drive to collect essential items and non-perishable food. Co-workers at UNC REX in Raleigh and at UNC Medical Center (UNC MC) in Chapel Hill will work together to fill two tractor trailers with supplies for those impacted by the hurricane and subsequent flooding.

Why: UNC Lenoir Memorial and UNC Wayne Memorial hospitals, part of the UNC Health Care system, each had co-workers personally affected by the storm. Authorities estimate that the cost of flooding from Hurricane Matthew in North Carolina will exceed $1.5 billion. Eastern NC will continue to be in crisis, and UNC MC and UNC REX co-workers wanted to help. Items of greatest need are cleaning supplies, paper products and personal hygiene items. Anyone is welcome to drop off donations at the locations and times identified below.

WHERE:

  • UNC REX Location: Macon Pond Rd, 2800 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, across from the Emergency Department
  • UNC Location: 101 Manning Dr., Chapel Hill, in front of the NC Women’s Hospital

WHEN:

  • Wednesday, Nov. 2: 6-9 a.m., 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 4-7:30 p.m., 10-11:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 3: 6-9 a.m., 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 4-7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, Nov. 4: 6-10 a.m.

WHO: Co-workers from across the UNC Health Care system will volunteer to help load and sort items on the trucks in Chapel Hill and Raleigh. Off-site campus locations are collecting items, with couriers delivering to the truck sites.

“Hurricane Matthew was devastating for many people across our state and beyond,” said Sue Sandberg, chief operating officer at UNC REX. “As health care providers, we do everything we can to improve the lives and outcomes for the people we serve. Those impacted by Matthew are our friends, family and our patients, and we want to help in any way we can.”